Used MyWireless modem and Info

smokalot

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May 25, 2005
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Hi guys,

I want to try out MyWireless and am looking to buy a second hand USB modem with all the standard accessories (charger, etc).

I would rather do this then get stuck into a 24-month contract. This way I can get out quickly and sell the modem.

If anyone has any info (experience) or any advice regarding the MyWireless service or modems I would really appreciate it.

Also if anyone is in the Highlands North area in Johannesburg let me know if you get a decent signal. I assume the Rosebank tower will be used there.

:)
 
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Hi There,

I am a My Wireless reseller don't have any second hand modems sorry only new ones. If your not looking for a contract there are options to take a month to month contract. You can have a signal test etc done at your premises for about R150 to see if your able to use My Wireless

Regards
Brendan
 
Sorry to butt into someone else's thread, but why are signal tests charged for? If the signal's bad it's not the (prospective) client's fault is it?

My area shows as a very low reception area for mywireless and I don't want to fork out R150 to have this confirmed. I will just ignore mywireless.
 
SecretCode said:
Sorry to butt into someone else's thread, but why are signal tests charged for? If the signal's bad it's not the (prospective) client's fault is it?

My area shows as a very low reception area for mywireless and I don't want to fork out R150 to have this confirmed. I will just ignore mywireless.

Hiya ..actually, your question is less a "buttinski" than a natural evolution of this thread, seeing as someone else DID bring up the question of charging.

But to answer you: very simply, you're paying for the someone's (hopefully! -there seems to be an alarmingly loose interpretation of this!) professional, i.e. work, time to do something for a result that you've agreed to: and to fend off THAT question, having been told about the price beforehand and accepting it, you are agreeing to pay for a service.

I'm guessing you're okay with the idea of paying for a technician to fix something: typically this would be for getting a computer fixed, but there are many fields of endeavour this applies to. THEN we get to the fact that the kit we (yes: I, too, am in the MyWireless biz, tho' mostly I do HGA work) carry costs money- my laptop, modem, antennas (I have (too damn) many: different ranges from towers mean using an appropriately sized) unit are tools that are expected to work to make a return on investment. In THIS we're no different than, say, a mechanic.

As to your last statement: being as it's your hard earned money, you're entirely entitled to be as hard-headed as you feel like about how you want to spend it, hell I'm *right* next to you on that one, brother! Only I have to point out that this is a remarkably head-in-the-sand approach: let's say that MyWireless really could work for you- ignoring it on the basis of not wanting to spend what, in the long term, amounts to a pretty trivial amount of money (just see how far R150 gets you in the grocery bag stakes next time you're food shopping) in the long term.

Sure, it MAY turn out to be a dead end- but you'd *know* ..and be properly informed and could move on to finding the next less ideal alternative. But it *could* also turn out to work really damn well, if properly done.

So it boils down to value: getting a meaningful return on your money. My suggestion is not to simply blow off the option, but to ASK what you'd get for spending your cash: if they can't give you a satisfactory answer, they have no right to your money.

HTH
-bdt
 
smokalot said:
1. I want to try out MyWireless and am looking to buy a second hand USB modem with all the standard accessories (charger, etc).

2. I would rather do this then get stuck into a 24-month contract. This way I can get out quickly and sell the modem.

3. If anyone has any info (experience) or any advice regarding the MyWireless service or modems I would really appreciate it.

4. Also if anyone is in the Highlands North area in Johannesburg let me know if you get a decent signal. I assume the Rosebank tower will be used there.

Hiya, *your* turn! ;) (obviously my numbering to your post, to help keep things clear)

1 & 2: an alternative is to get the use of a loan unit: yes you're paying for a service, and it'd be a minimum of 60days' worth. But it's a finite and reasonably short term and MORE than long enough for you to evaluate the product to how YOUR life works. Also- you'd be spending a whole lot less than buying a modem that you'd then have to have the hassle of selling later - which pretty much answers 2, too.

3: can't answer question as asked, more data please :) - but seriously: what do YOU want from the service? Right off the bat I'm pretty sure your usage pattern will be nothing like mine, nor like a pal of mine sits on a "Business" package and *cough*makes it work*cough*

4: I'll go one better: I can (for a fee of course!) tell you *exactly* what kind of signal you can expect, under what conditions- by which I mean modem-only (if you're lucky enough to not need an HGA at all) or modem fed from an HGA ..and, at first, I wouldn't even charge you as my methodology is to help YOU get maximum value on your wallet-emptying: I'll get you provisional results before coming out there and then tell you if it's even worth doing, well before you have to think about sending any money my way (FTR, you *should* be OK in that area but experience (18months' worth) has taught me to NEVER take it for granted!).

Oh, and don't assume- it's a BAD habit and can lead to sticky situations :eek: - from Highlands North, you're a candidate for Linksfield, Killarney and Rosebank ..only a proper, professionally done on-site test will tell you for a flat-out-tested-fact.

HTH
-bdt
 
bdt - I appreciate the cost of the technician's time. What I'm questioning is why this isn't a cost of sale funded by the provider. (Not necessarily the reseller. Some of these are small groups or individuals and couldn't guarantee to cover the cost if they got a lot of signal test requests from people who then didn't sign up.)

The value I'm looking for is not "to know whether I have a good signal at my premises", it's "to get a good quality broadband service". I object to being charged for quotes, which this effectively is. As a business practice, I'm sure it puts some customers off ... especially when it fits with rumours of bad after-sales service.
 
The problem a lot of times is that when doing a signal test you need a laptop etc to ensure that you are connecting to the correct tower. I have done lots of tests where it shows signal and when doing the actual installation the signal is from the incorrect tower as it is too far away. Rather have a proper test done to ensure that there is no need for extra costs as a HGA. I work closely with guys doing the HGA Installations and they charge for doing signal tests as they need to procure the equipment or keep it in stock and this costs money. So that is the reason why there is a charge. In most cases if the signal is good enough and the customer takes the My Wireless option we don't charge. We are passed on leads and it is at our own expense that we follow up on these leads and time is money. Sometimes it takes up to two hours to do a proper test on location. Where can you get IT Support for that price? Also we need to our own Logon's to do these tests as we are not provided with these once again at our own expense.

Hope this adds some clarity to your dilemma about paying for service.
 
I have a second hand modem and all the accessaries. I cancelled my contract with Sentech, 'cos signal coverage was lost at my place.
 
BTD, you make compelling arguments, but I can just bypass you, as reseller, and go to Sentech to get the signal test done free.

I understand that you need to cover your time, and even your equipment costs, but i feel you should be able to do that out of your Sentech kick backs. If not, then Sentech should not have resellers, since they clearly don't care about you guys.

I had a reseller come out to me to test signal, then quoted me. Although the signal test was "free", his quote included costs that I would not pay by signing up directly with Sentech. I refused his quote on that basis alone, and signed directly with Sentech. Had he been forthcoming with that info up front, the R150 on his quote would have been a non-issue.

It seems this market is still to "mystified" for users / clients to fully understand (much like the cellphone industry in the mid 90's), and resellers are ripping the ring out of clients who don't know better.

Also, if Sentech valued resellers, why do they not have the same sort of incentive schemes the cellphone resellers have with networks? Maybe Sentech doesn't incentivise enough, because they cannot afford the added client base that would bring their way? Food for thought.
 
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I have a Sentech modem too that I would like to sell. I'll add the ethernet cable and the pigtail for an external antenna as well. All for R2000.

[email protected]
 
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